In brief:
Yes. They break open

...And are recycled.

Normal red blood cells have an average lifespan of 120 days. Sickle cells have a shorter life, being filtered from the circulation by the spleen and lysing (breaking open) there and elsewhere. Thus sickle cell anemia is a hemolytic anemia.

In brief:
Yes. They break open

...And are recycled.

Normal red blood cells have an average lifespan of 120 days. Sickle cells have a shorter life, being filtered from the circulation by the spleen and lysing (breaking open) there and elsewhere. Thus sickle cell anemia is a hemolytic anemia.
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